PROCESS CARTRIDGE COMPRISING STORING MEANS FOR STORING INFORMATION CONTROLLING A CHARGE ELIMINATION OPERATION AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING CONTROLLING MEANS CONTROLLING A CHARGE ELIMINATION OPERATION
US6704522B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 26, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 9, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2221/1823
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, capable of detachably mounting a process cartridge, for forming an image on a recording medium includes, a mounting portion for detachably mounting the process cartridge. The apparatus also includes a transporting member for transporting the recording medium, a controlling portion for controlling the operation of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to execute the reading and/or the writing of the information to a storing member of the cartridge; and an exposing portion for exposing an electrophotographic photosensitive body of the cartridge to light. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus is configured to execute a charge elimination operation of the electrophotographic photosensitive body if the electrophotographic image forming apparatus determines that the process cartridge is in an unused state on the basis of the information from the storing member. As a result, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a process cartridge, both being capable of preventing the occurrence of image defects such as a black streak in an initial state of the process cartridge, are provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.